Aesop for Today, February 12

In a couple of the articles I've written about Aesop, we find that his philosopher owner, Xanthus, has been irritated with the mischevous nature of his slave, and is looking for a good reason to give him a good flogging. In his efforts, Aesop sees the challenge, plays with his master's sensibility, and often comes out the victor. This story, also taken from the translations of L'Estrange is about an incident where Xanthus challenges Aesop
to find someone who is not a meddler or even faintly curious about things happening around him.

These writings are for the most part fictitious; the stories are not supported as historical fact.

"XANTHUS laid hold of the present Occasion, and was willing
enough to be furnished with a Staff to beat a Dog." (In other words, he was
looking for an occasion to beat the crap out of Aesop!)
" 'Well, Sirrah,' says [Xanthus to Aesop], 'since this learned Gentleman is too curious, go you your ways and find me out a Man that has no Curiosity
at all, or I'll lace your Coat for ye.' "
"Aesop, the next Day, walked the whole Town over on his Errand,
and at last found out a slovenly lazy Fellow, lolling at his Ease, as if he
had nothing to do, or to take care for; and so up to him he went in a
familiar way, and invited him to his Master's to Supper."
"The Clown made no Ceremony of promising, but fell presently to asking
what kind of Man [Aesop's] Master was. 'And what,' says he, 'are we going
just now?' (for this poor Devil look'd upon a Meal's Meat gratis, as a
Blessing dropt into his Mouth out of the Skies.)"
" 'Come,' (says AEsop) 'we are going this very Moment.' Wonderfully
glad he was to find by the Booby's Discourse that he had met with a Man
so fit for his purpose."
"Away they went together, and so strait into the Parlour, where the
Blockhead throws himself down, dirty and beastly as he was, upon
a rich Couch."
"After a very little while, in comes Xanthus to supper, and asks Aesop who that Man was?
" 'Why, this is the Man,' says Aesop, 'that you sent me for; that is to say,
a Man that has no Curiosity in him at all.' "
" 'Oh, that's very well,' says Xanthus; and then told his Wife in her Ear,
that if she would be but a loving and obedient Wife to him, and do
as he bad her, he would now save her longing; 'For,' says he, 'I have
been a great while seeking for an Occasion to pick a Quarrel with AEsop,
and I have found it at last.' "
"After this Whisper, Xanthus takes a Turn in the Parlour, and calls
aloud to his Wife; 'Hark ye, sweetheart,' says he, 'go fetch some
Water, and wash the Feet of my Guest here.' "
"Away she goes, brings a Bason to the side of the Couch, where the
Clown was laid at his length, and bad him put forth his Feet for her
to wash them. Xanthus little thought she would have done it."
"But the Clown, after a little stumble within himself, that 'twas fitter
for the Maid to do't than the Mistress: 'Well,' says he, 'if it be the Custom
of the Family, 'tis not for me to be against it.' And so he stretch'd
forth his Feet to her washing."
"So soon as ever the Company had taken off the edge of their
Stomachs, Xanthus calls for a Bumper, and puts it into the Hands
of the Clown, making no doubt but he would have allow'd his
Host the Honour of being his Taster. The Fellow, without any
scruple, whips up the Drink; and gives Xanthus the Pot again
empty, who was now the second time disappointed upon the Matter
of Curiosity, or no Curiosity at all."
"He had a Mind still to be upon poor Aesop's Bones, and made another
Tryal of the Humour of his Guest. There was a particular Dish that the
Clown fed very heartily upon. Xanthus fell into a Rage with the Cook for
ill-dressing of it, and threaten'd to have him brought and lash'd in
the very Parlour. The Bumkin took no notice of it at all, but without
speaking one word on the Cook's behalf, 'it was nothing to him'
he thought, 'what other People did with their Servants.' "
"They were come now to their Cakes and Pyes, and the Clown
guttled upon them without Mercy. Xanthus resolves then upon
another Tryal; calls for his Pastry-cook and tells him, 'Sirrah,' says
he, 'you spoil everything that goes through your Hands. There's
neither Spice, nor any other Seasoning here.' "
"The Cook told him, that if they were either over or under-bak'd,
it was his Fault; but for the Spice and Seasoning, it was his Mistresses,
for it was all put in that she deliver'd."
" 'Nay Wife,' says Xanthus, 'if it sticks there, by all that's sacred, I'll
treat you no better than if you were a Slave bought with my Money.
Wherefore strip immediately and prepare for a Dog-whip.' "
"Xanthus thought with himself; that if any thing in the World could move
this barbarous Brute, he would have put in a word at least to save a
Woman of Honour from so scandalous an Indignity."
"But says this Loggerhead to himself, 'there's an old Saying, "What have
we to do to quench other Peoples Fire?" And I'll e'en keep myself clear of
other Peoples Matters.' "
"He took Xanthus by the Hand indeed, and told him if he would
but stay a little, he'd go fetch his own Wife too, and so they might
take the Lash by Turns."
"In one word, Xanthus missed his Aim at last; and though he was
troubled at the Miscarriage, he could not but laugh yet at the Simplicity
of the Man, and confess, that Aesop was in the Right, in bringing a Person
to him that had no Curiosity at all."

Source: Bookend
Google Books

Today's Aesop's Fable:

This one is not so well known.

The Stag in the Ox Stall
A stag, hard pressed by the hounds, ran for shelter in an ox stall, the door of which was open. One of the oxen turned round, and asked him why he came to such a place as that, where he would be sure to be taken. The stag replied that he should do well enough if the oxen would not tell of him; and covering himself in a heap of straw, waited for the nght.
Several servants and even the overseer himself, came and looked round, but saw nothing of the stag, who, as each went away, was ready to jump out of his skin for joy, and warmly thanked the oxen for their silence.
The ox who had spoken first to him warned him not to be too sure of his escape, and said that, glad as they would all be for him to et away, there was a certain person still to come whose eyes were a deal sharper than the eyes of anyone who had been there yet. This was the master himself, who. having been dining with a neighbor, look in on his way home to see that all was right.
At a glance he saw the tips of the horns coming through the straw, whereupon he raised a hue and cry, called all his people together, and made a prize of the stag.
The eye of the master does more than all his servants.